Safety hat



Jan. 24, 1939. E. w. BULLARD SAFETY HAT Filed Feb. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l .INVENTOR PD PM BULLAPD BY 6% H/fi ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1939. E. w. BULLARD SAFETY HAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1936 INVENTOR ED D WE 41.420 BY w j HA5 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SAFETY HAT Edward W. Ballard, San

Francisco, can, as-

Ilgnor to E. D. Ballard Company, San Francis- Cali! mtlonpl' California Application February 12, 1930, Serial No. 63,619

'lClalma.

My invention relates to safety hats; and particularly to a hat for use as protection against head injuries by falling objects or other similar hazards Another object is to provide a safety hat struc-- ture arranged to the hat crown.

obtain effective ventilation of Another object of my invention is to provide a safety hat embodying features of structure and arrangement obtaining simplicity and economy in The invention other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a safety hat embodying my invention, parts being broken away to show features of the construction.

Figure 2 is a view of the bottom and interior of the hat shown in Figure 1, and illustrating the manner in which the lining and head band are mounted.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical 4o mid section, of another hat structure embodying my invention.

Figure 4 is a broken sectional detail of the lining and head band mounting means as embodied in the structure illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a broken sectional detail of the lining and band mounting means as embodied in the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a broken vertical sectional detail so of the top ventilation means as embodied in .the

hat structure of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 7 is a similar detail of the top ventilating means of the hat structure of Figure 3.

In terms of broadinclusion, the safety hat of u my invention comprises a crown, preferably similartothat of formed of compacted fibrous sheet material, shaped to provide a rigid dome-like protective covering for the head. Preferably, the crown comprises a pair of rigid archedcrown forming sheets crossing each other at the top of the crown, and having the end portions widened and overlapping to form the front, back, and sides of the crown.

A lining and head band are detachably mounted within the crown by means of a pluralm ity of suspensionstraps secured within the low portion of the crown, the straps preferably being inserted thru openings in the lining, and being provided with suitable fastening means engaging the head band, whereby both the lining 1 and the head band are detachably securedin op erative relationship to the crown.

My invention also contemplates the provision of ventilating means for the hat crown including a ventilating opening extending entirely m around the crown the crown, and also an opening in the top of the crown shielded by a boss having openings in its sides to permit the circulation of air and at the same time prevent the entrance of liquid or solid 25 substances into the crown when the hat is being worn.

In terms of greater detail, the safety hat of my invention comprises a rigid dome-shaped crown, I, preferably formed from compacted 3o fibrous sheet material of a weight suitable for protecting the head of a wearer from injury by falling objects, or other heavy blows. Sheet material of that kind having a thickness of about 1 to f, of an inch is light and readily formable, 35

cause it is water-proof, and a non-conductor of so electricity.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the crown i is formed from a pair of arch shape crown pieces 2 and 3 crossing at substantially right angles at the top of the crown. 45 The ends of the sheets 2 and 3 are widened to overlap along their adjacent edges. and form the front, back and sides of the crown.

The sheets 2 and I are cut from suitable stock, and are pressed into the desired form. The lower so edges of the sheets 2 and 3 are sewed, or otherwise secured to a ring 4 for holding the crown sheets in crown-forming relation.

The ring 4 is preferably formed of material the crown sheets 2 and 3, and is crown at the lower edge thereof. The ring 4 is preferably provided with a vizor or brim 5 formed integrally therewith. Slits 6 may be made at intervals along the upper edge of the ring 4 to facilitate the shaping of the ring and vizor.

The sheets 2 and 3 are'preferably secured only at their lower edges, the intervening arched portions being left free so that each may yield under pressure or under a blow independently of the other. This structure obtains increased resilience; and avoids weakening of the crown due to the application of securing means therethrough.

The underlying crown sheet 2 is preferably provided with a ventilating opening I at approximately the center of the top of the crown. The overlying sheet 3 is provided with a boss 8 formed therein to span the opening I. Ventilating openings 9 are formed in the sides of the boss 8 to permit the circulation of air thru the crown of the hat and at the same time prevent the entrance of water or other liquid or solid material into the hat through the: opening I when it is being worn.

The crown i is made of a size substantially greater than the ordinary head size; and is fitted to the head of a wearer by means of a head band II. The head band H is mounted within the crown by means of a plurality of suspension straps 12 secured within the lower portion of the crown, the head band being connected to the strap by means of snap fasteners l3 or other suitable securing means.

The straps i2 may be made of leather, or other suitable material, having the required strength and flexibility. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings, the straps I2 are secured at their upper ends to the upper ends of tongues l4 extending upwardly from the ring 4 within the lower edge of the crown. The straps l2 may be secured to the tongues H, or other supporting means, by any suitable securing means, as for example by rivets IS.

The head band II is preferably mounted with its lower edge in substantially the same plane with the lower edge of the crown l. The head band ii may be formed from any suitable material, preferably sufliciently firm to be self supporting, yet sumciently yieldable to conform to the shape of the head. Fabric impregnated and coated with a phenolic condensation product and subjected to heat and pressure to produce a smooth glazed finish has been found to be highly satisfactory for this purpose. Such material is light, yet strong and durable; and possesses waterproofing properties such that it is not injured by perspiration or exposure to moisture. Other sheet material possessing similar properties, as for example compacted fiber, may be substituted if desired. Head bands I l are made to fit various head sizes; and it is only necessary to select a head band of the desired size to fit the crown to any head. The straps l2 support the head band I l in spaced relation to the inner surface of the crown so that a relatively wide ventilating passage extending entirely around the lower edge of the crown is formed between the crown and head band.

The straps l2 also serve as a means for securing the lower end of lining strips l9 arranged to extend over the top of the head of a wearer to limit the extent to which thehat may be moved downwardly onto the head, and to distribute the forceof a blow received upon the crown. The

extends entirely around the interior of the formed strips it are made of a strong flexible material, such as leather, and are preferably secured to the straps l2 by passing the straps thru openings 2| formed in the lower ends of the straps. The strips l8 converge toward the top of the crown. and are connected by a cord 22, or other suitable connecting means, by which the ends of the strips are adjustably connected to each other. The strips l9 adapt-themselves to the shape of the head of a wearer; and by taking up or letting out the cord 22, the lining strips may be adjusted to suit the requirements of the individual user.

In the embodiments disclosed in Figures 3, 5, and 7 of the drawings, the crown is formed from a single piece of compacted fibrous sheet material shaped to form a dome-shaped crown and secured at its lower edge to a.ring 26 forming the lower portion of the crown. In this structure, the suspension straps l2 may be secured at their upper end between the crown sheet 24 and the ring 26 by the stitching 21 by which the ring is sewed to the crown sheet 24. The lining strips I! and head band ll are'secured to the straps I2 in the manner above explained in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 4.

In this case, as in the embodiment previously described, ventilation thru the top of the crown is effected by means of a ventilating opening 28 formed in the top of the crown sheet 24. Here, however, the boss 29 overlying the ventilating opening 28 is a separate piece of sheet material secured to the outer surface of the crown sheet. The boss 29 is preferably formed with points 20 thru which securing means, as for example stitches 3|, are applied. The portion of the boss 29 between the points 30 is raised away from the upper surface of the crown to pr V nt la n openings 32 therebetween.

The lining strips l9 and head band H are assembled upon the crown l by first inserting the straps l2 thru the openings 2! of the lining strips, and thereafter securing the head band to the downwardly extending ends of the strap l2 by means of the fasteners l8. By a proper selection of a head band ll of desired size, the hat can be fitted to any individual. A number of headbands may be kept on hand, and may be interchangeably used to fit the hat to a variety of head sizes.

The lining strips l9 insure that the crown I will be held in spaced relation to the top of a wearers head. In event a falling object should strike the top of the hat while it is being worn, the force of the blow is taken up by the lining strips l9 and distributed over the head of the wearer in such a way as to avoid severe injury.

Y I claim:

1. A safety hat comprising a pair of resilient arch shaped crown sheets crossing at the top of the crown and having end portions forming the front, back and sides of the crown, and a band secured to the lower edges of the crown sheets for securing the same in independently yieldable crown forming relation.

2. A safety hat comprising an arched crown sheet of compacted fibrous sheet material and having a narrow center forming a top and widened end portions forming the sides of a crown, a second arched crown sheet of compacted fibrous sheet material crossing the narrow portion of the first sheet at the top of the crown and having widened and portions forming the front and back of the crown, the arched crown sheets being yieldable in the direction of their respective lengths and transversely with respect to the length of the other sheet, and means for securing the sheets in crown forming relation.

3. A safety hat comprising an arched crown sheet of compacted fibrous sheet material and having widened end portions forming the sides of a crown, a second arched crown sheet oi compacted fibrous sheet material crossing the first sheet and having widened end portions forming the front and back of the crown the widened ends of each sheet spanning gaps between the end portions of the other sheet, and a band secured to the lower edges of the end portions for securing the sheets in yieldable crown forming relation.

4. A safety hat comprising a rigid crown, a lining, a head band, and a plurality oi flexible suspension straps fixedly secured at their upper ends within the lower portion 01' the crown and detachably engaging the lining andhead band for securing the same within the crown.

5. A safety hat comprising a rigid crown, a plurality oi flexible suspension straps fixedly secured at their upper ends within the lower portion of the crown, a lining having openings through which the straps may extend for detachably securing the lining within the crown, and a head band detachably secured upon the lower ends of the straps.

6. A safety hat comprising a crown, a ring secured to the lower edge of the crown, tabs integral with and projecting upwardly from the ring within the crown, suspension straps secured at their upper ends to the tabs, a lining detachably engaged by the straps, and a head band secured to the lower ends of the straps.

' 7. A safety hat comprising an arched crown sheet of rigid sheet material, a second arched crown sheet of rigid material crossing the first sheet at the top of the crown at substantially right angles, the sheets having end portions widened and overlapping to form the front, back, and sides of the crown, a band securing the lower edges 01' the crown sheets in crown forming relation, a plurality of straps secured within the lower portion of the crown, lining strips detachably engaging the straps, and a head band detachably secured to the lower ends of the straps.

EDWARD W. BUILARD. 

